TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

During this time of remembering Jesus’ death and celebrating His resurrection, we often want to give the crucifixion honorable mention and quickly move to the victory of the empty tomb. When we allow ourselves to pause and consider the pain and agony of His death, it is hard to get pass the horror of the physical torture that Jesus suffered for us. But what about the mental agony of “He who knew no sin”, bearing our sins? Consider His anguish as the One who “so loved the world” looked down from the cross and saw only a handful of followers watching from afar. After 3 1/2 years of preaching, miracles and sacrifice, was this His entire congregation? Had they gone in search of a more exciting program, a more dynamic speaker or a more “seeker-friendly” message? What had happened to the multitudes that came for the loaves and fishes?

The beginning of the exodus of Jesus’ followers is recorded in John 6:66-68. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” Jesus could continue His ministry with the assurance that there would always be His mother and at least 12 men or 11 since as God; He knew Judas would betray Him. Jesus could always depend on Peter. It was Peter who recognized that Jesus was the Son of the Living God. Peter who said, “I have no other place to go.” We hear from Peter again assuring Jesus that he would “NEVER deny Him.” The same Peter who was given the Keys to the Kingdom. Now, jump ahead to “Trial Day” and where is Peter? We find him outside with the other spectators loudly proclaiming, “Don’t look at me, I don’t know Him.”

Jesus looks down from the cross expecting to see some of the 5,000 that were fed from a little boys lunch, or maybe Blind Bartemaeus, surely at least 1 of the 10 lepers would come to mourn, John 19:25-26 explains Jesus’ view from the cross, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!"  Only 4 people? During His final hour, Jesus had more accusers than followers. The loneliness must have been overwhelming.

Would I have been at the foot of the cross? Like Peter, I assure myself that I would never leave, where else would I go, He has the words of eternal life. But what happens when life gets tough, when my plans and dreams get shattered, when it seems there is no harvest after years of sowing seed and watering tender plants? Am I like Peter standing afar off warming his hands or do you find me kneeling with John and the 3 women; faithful to the end? Lord, I want to be a Simon of Cyrene carrying your cross or a Joseph of Arimathaea, ministering to your Body. In the good times and bad, during harvest or famine, whether it rains or the sun shines, “To whom shall I go, You have the Words of Eternal life.”

IT IS FINISHED; NOT ENDED

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished:” and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 19:30

Sunday we will celebrate with Christians all over the world the most important day in history. Many, who have not been to church since last year’s Easter or Christmas service, will sit on our pews and hear the story of the resurrection. To all of us who have experienced redemption through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it isn’t just a story of an event long ago; it is the culmination of the plan of God that was set in motion from the foundation of the earth. Man had sinned, been judged guilty and sentenced to death. God loved His creation so much that He did not want to wipe us off the face of the earth. So God robed himself in flesh, came to earth as a baby, took all of our sins upon himself and died in our place; the story of Easter.

The Resurrection is such a personal event to me. My life has been dramatically changed because of the blood which flowed from Calvary. Jesus came to alter the destiny of mankind and no one who has a personal encounter with Him can remain as they were.

Lives were affected from the moment He was conceived. Mary and Joseph had all their life’s plans dramatically altered. No longer just another giddy engaged couple; they accepted the awesome responsibility of nurturing and raising the Son of God. Priests, scribes and Pharisees marveled at the wisdom of a 12 year old boy. The Bible mentions some of the women who were touched by Jesus in a time when women were overlooked by most of society. An encounter with a woman by the well in Samaria resulted in a testimony that brought many Samaritans to belief in Jesus Christ. Several came to Jesus because of a need and went away healed and made whole. Who can forget the woman who had been diseased with an issue of blood for 12 years? After spending all that she had and going to every physician she knew, a mere touch of the hem of His garment made her whole. There were many who were forever changed during the last week of Jesus’ life. Sadly, some would never accept the hope that he offered.

All through their lives, each of these individuals could not escape what may have been a momentary encounter with Jesus, God robed in flesh. Some may have been haunted by the memory while others rejoiced in new found freedom, but all were changed.

I am so thankful that though the plan is finished, it didn’t end at Calvary or the empty tomb or with the death of the disciples and apostles. The final chapter hasn’t been written. Jesus is still changing lives, setting captives free and healing sick and wounded people. I had my personal encounter with Jesus Christ 51 years ago. I can tell you the day, the hour and the place where my life was forever changed. Let this be the Easter that you allow Him to touch you and change your life for all eternity.

SACRIFICED OR RESURRECTED JESUS

The disciples had walked with Jesus for over 3 years.  They had listened to His teachings, witnessed unbelievable miracles and now the end had come.  Just as He had warned the disciples, His mission was not to set up a Kingdom in this world but to become the sacrifice; the Lamb of God.  Matthew records that Jesus talked to them 3 times concerning His death, but always ended with the assurance of resurrection. 

Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

Matthew 17:22-23 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, ²³ and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

Matthew 20:17-19 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, ¹⁸ “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, ¹⁹ and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”

Just as Jesus had told them, the authorities led Him away, sentenced Him and crucified Him.  They watched Him die; the Lamb of God. They heard the thunder, saw the lightening and felt the great earthquake.  Perhaps they even saw the High Priest run out of the temple as the veil was torn in half, once again, giving all mankind access to the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies.  The women, who had followed him faithfully, looked on as a disciple named Joseph of Arimetha, claimed the body, wrapped it in linen, laid it in a tomb and sealed it with a stone.  They would be faithful; they would spread His teachings; they would continue to worship a Sacrificed Jesus.  But Jesus wanted to be so much more than just the sacrifice in their lives.  The sacrifice was just a means to bridge the broken relationship between God and man so that man could live a life full of power and abundance. 

His desire was and is to be worshiped as the Resurrected Jesus.

For 40 days, after the resurrection, Jesus appeared, talked and walked with the Disciples. Then it was time for Jesus to depart, but He was not leaving as the Sacrificed Jesus.  He wanted his disciples to see Him as the Resurrected Jesus who was sending back the Promise of His Holy Spirit so they could worship and live in Resurrection Power.  Acts 1:4-5 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”  

Many have turned to Him in repentance, have accepted His forgiveness, had their sins washed away through baptism and may have even received the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as the disciples did on the Day of Pentecost, yet they continue to live a powerless life, serving a Sacrificed Jesus.  We trust Him as the substitute on the Cross for our sins then we leave Him in the tomb, when He wants to become the Resurrected Jesus in our lives.

  Acts 1:8 promises that we can live a resurrected, powerful life; “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  

 If you have not yet received the gift of the Holy Spirit, it is available and Jesus is waiting to fill your life totally with His power.  If you have received the Holy Spirit, allow it to become active in your life.  The price has been paid; your sins have been forgiven.  It is time to move forward from the Sacrificed Jesus and begin to live a life of power and abundance in the Resurrected Jesus.